In the wisdom traditions of the Andes and Amazon, nothing is done by chance—especially not ceremonies or rituals. Shamans and their communities have always known that the Earth, the sun, and the moon move in divine rhythm. They understood long before science caught up that each time of day holds a unique energy—a subtle invitation. When we tune into these natural pulses—these sacred times—the door to healing swings wide open.
With the introduction of electricity—that static current of energy—something shifted. The light bulb, batteries, and their many applications gave humans the illusion of independence from nature. Night turned into day. Day turned into night. The sacred rhythm of rest and activity was interrupted. The siesta—the sacred afternoon pause—disappeared. Over time, our biological clock was dismissed, and we lost touch with the cycles that have guided life for millennia.
But no matter what we invent or ignore, the Earth remains faithful to her turning. Every 24-hour day is still marked by four distinct transitions, arriving precisely every six hours.
Sunrise, midday, sundown, and midnight—these are the Four Sacred Portals. They are the thresholds where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. When the veil between the worlds grows thin. When Spirit leans in closer. These are the quiet, in-between moments that whisper, “You are more than you remember.”
Fluctuations in atmospheric temperature, light, color, and electromagnetic flow mark these sacred times. But this is not just poetic—this is scientific. Modern studies in chronobiology show us that our minds, moods, and bodies shift with the fast-turning Earth. Our nervous systems, hormone levels, and cellular rhythms respond directly to light changes, ionization, and solar-magnetic activity.
The very portals that shamans step through with intention are also biological gateways. Nature, once again, shows us: there is no separation. We are one. One with Her.
Each sacred portal brings its own medicine. Each one opens us to a different layer of our inner and outer world. When we pause to honor them—when we breathe and listen—our ceremonies, our prayers, and our intentions grow strong wings.
Portal One: Sunrise – Facing Bewilderment
Great Spirit and Father Sun, we thank you.
Bless this day with your loving, guiding light.
Awaken our hearts with courage and our minds with clarity.
Let us rise and begin inhaling again—in awe.
The first portal opens toward East. It is the direction of new beginnings. Of hope, inspiration, renewal, and sacred vision. The East greets us with focus and clarity. Let the light kiss your face. It reminds us that every day is a new story waiting to be written, and every breath a miracle ready to unfold.
Scientifically, sunrise marks a shift in the atmospheric field. The air becomes charged with ions—tiny electrically active particles. Positive ions, or cations, have one less electron. Negative ions, or anions, have one more. And dawn is rich in these healing negative ions—which have been shown to elevate mood, sharpen thinking, and nourish the body on a cellular level. The morning dew carries them from the earth into our lungs. The Earth is breathing life into us.
Around 4:30 a.m., as the first light stirs on the horizon, the world holds its breath. Birds begin their songs. Animals stir. Taita Inti, Father Sun, slowly lifts his golden head above the land, warming the soil and chasing away the night’s cold. The sky becomes a sacred canvas of pinks, oranges, and glowing golds. It is a time of pure possibility.
This is the portal of sacred awakening. A time to honor the mystery. A time to remember who we are.
Here are simple sunrise practices to align yourself with this sacred portal:
– Before getting up, bow your head and give thanks—for all in your life, especially those who have harmed you as their actions brought lessons. Forgive them.
– Share dreams with your family or circle. Share them around the morning fire or breakfast table.
– Gently stretch. Do the Sunrise Movement exercises or yoga to awaken your body and soul.
– Tend to your altar. Cleanse it, feed it, and chant your gratitude. Especially on Tuesdays and Fridays.
– Set your daily intention. Whisper it to the sun.
– Meditate. Let the East remind you: every morning is a chance of rebirth.
– Give thanks to Jatun Pachakamak—the Great Mystery—for the gift of another day.
– As the sun crosses the horizon, it is a powerful time to perform La Limpia—the sacred cleansing of the body, mind, and spirit—or to engage in any form of healing work.
– Nourish your body with wholesome food. Drink Guayusa, the sacred plant of stamina and vision, to prepare for the path ahead.
– Step into the day with purpose. Let it begin in awe.
Portal Two: Midday – Opening of the Sky Above
Great Spirit of the limitless blue sky,
shine through us with your radiant wisdom.
Burn away all that casts shadows in our souls.
May we share our ancestors path with grace.
The second gate opens not in a direction, but straight above—toward the heavens, the Upper World. This is the realm of vision, of divine intelligence, of messages carried by birds and wind. The midday sun stands directly overhead—in the Equator. There are no shadows. Nothing is hidden. This is the hour of full truth and clarity.
At this peak, the energies of Pachamama rising from below and Taita Inti radiating from above meet in perfect harmony. In shamanic cosmology, this moment invites connection to higher guidance, to the celestial teachers who walk with us unseen.
Science tells us that midday is a time of optimal ion balance between Earth and sky. Solar energy is strong. Our bodies are alert, clear, and metabolically alive. What we do with our focus now sets the tone for the rest of our day.
This is a powerful time for community—coming together in ceremonies of truth and shared purpose. Look up. Breathe deep. Open your heart. The sky is speaking. Will you listen?
Portal Three: Sundown – Facing the West
Great Spirit of the fading day,
hold us as the light recedes into darkness.
Teach us to surrender to the reflection of the moon.
May we gather the gifts of this day in gratitude.
The third gate calls us to the West, the direction of introspection, endings, and letting go. In Andean tradition, this is the domain of Mama Killa, the sacred moon. As the sun descends, we are invited to gather the day’s wisdom and offer back all that is complete.
As light softens and shadows grow long, the electromagnetic field shifts once again. We begin to feel it in our bones—slowness, reflection, surrender. The sky paints itself in brilliant pinks, golds, and deep blues. The first stars return.
Our bodies prepare for rest. Melatonin rises, calming our systems. The West whispers, “Release.” It is the hour to exhale deeply, to say thank you, to forgive, to wrap yourself in a shawl of quiet grace.
Sit with the sunset. Reflect. Honor what was. Let it go with love. The moon will carry your prayers through the night.
Portal Four: Midnight – Opening to the Sky Above Again
Great Spirit of the Midnight Sky,
hold us in your sacred silence.
Heal our souls in dreams and visions.
Let the voices of the ancestors speak.
The final gate returns us once more to the sky above—but this time, under the cloak of stars and darkness. Midnight is the hour of the soul. The ancestors gather here. Dreams are born here. In many traditions, this is when Spirit speaks the loudest—because the world is finally quiet enough to hear.
Biologically, midnight is when the body begins its deepest healing. Brain waves slow. The subconscious stirs. The immune system repairs. Memories are filed, emotions processed, dreams unfurl.
This is not a time for doing—it is a time for receiving. For traveling inward. For whispering to the unseen. In the stillness of night, open your heart to the sky. You don’t need answers. Just presence. Just willingness. Let midnight carry you gently into the vastness of the mystery.
The Twenty-Minute Window
Each of these sacred gates opens for only a short time—roughly ten minutes before and ten minutes after their peak. Within these twenty minutes, the spiritual and physical worlds intertwine. If we tune in—if we pause—we can ride the wave of nature’s perfect rhythm. We don’t need to force. We simply need to remember.
Why We Need These Ceremonies
Because we are energetic beings in an energetic world. Our luminous bodies, our auras, are constantly absorbing and exchanging vibrations. Ideally, this field acts as a radiant shield—protecting, nourishing, informing. But like any living thing, it can fray, tear, or become clouded.
You’ve felt it. Maybe you were sitting beside someone who carried grief or anger, and suddenly you felt it in your own chest. Maybe you walked into a room and the energy hit you like a wave. Your mood changed. That’s your energy field asking for care. For cleansing. For return.
These sacred ceremonies help us remember who we are. They realign us with the Earth. They reconnect us with Spirit. And they remind us that we are not separate—we are part of a living web of light and love.
Coming Home
When we begin to honor the Four Sacred Gates, something shifts. Life feels less chaotic. More meaningful. More alive. We stop fighting the current and begin to flow with the river of time and energy.
The shaman becomes a guide—a guardian of the thresholds—reminding us that healing is always close. These gates are not just times of day. They are invitations. They are prayers. They are moments of return.
By working with them, we remember that healing is not just physical. It is emotional. It is spiritual. It is energetic. It is always available when we slow down and listen.
And perhaps most importantly—we remember that we are never alone. The Earth is always guiding us. Spirit is always near. And the Four Sacred Gates are always opening, again and again, to welcome us home.
Thank you for giving us another way to connect to the natural cycles, and ultimately the wise energy that makes itself available in each day. It feels like we are being asked to strengthen our spirits, for the collective and for our own expansion as Lightworkers.
Itzhak…Much Gratitude for honoring the Light. Whether sourced from the Sun, Moon, or Stars.
The “light codices” emanating from the Sun ( a surrogate for the Great Mystery) continuously provides informational upgrades to life on earth, in my view. Our eyes (that portion of our brain that resides outside the cranium) captures the morning sun, setting our circadian rhythm. Our skin captures infrared and near infrared light promoting cellular health. Sunglasses and sunscreen would not be my first choice.
Let the Light in!
Thank you so much for this insightful article, as it feels that shamanism is a way of life and has become a default system after learning and practicing it. I see so many similarities in the asian shamanic community with respect to the prayers. Much Gratitude and more power. In Munay.